John Wright (politician)
Encyclopedia
John Wright is a former New Zealand
politician. He was an MP
from 1996 to 2002, representing the Alliance
.Before entering Parliament he owned the Port-a-Loo company.
Wright joined the Social Credit Party
in 1977, and was part of the conference in 1985 that turned the group into the Democratic Party
. He was the Democratic candidate for Rangiora in the 1990 elections
. In 1991, he became leader of the Democrats.
When the Democrats joined with three other parties to found the Alliance
, Wright was active in building up the new organisation. He stood unsuccessfully for the Alliance in the Rangiora seat in the 1993 elections
, and then in the 1994 Selwyn by-election
. In the 1996 elections
, the first conducted under the MMP system, Wright was elected to Parliament as a list MP, having been ranked in fourth place on the Alliance list. By this time, he was leader of the Democrats. He returned to Parliament in the 1999 elections
, and when the Alliance formed a coalition government with the larger Labour Party
, Wright was appointed to a Parliamentary Undersecretary's role.
In 2002, the Alliance began to collapse, with a rift opening between Parliamentary leader Jim Anderton
and the organizational wing, led by Matt McCarten
. When Anderton left the Alliance to establish a new party, the Progressive Coalition
, the Democrats (including Wright) followed him. In the 2002 elections
, Wright was ranked in fourth place on the Progressive list, behind Anderton, Matt Robson
, and new Democratic Party leader Grant Gillon
. but as the party only won enough votes for two seats, Wright did not remain in Parliament.
Later, when the Democrats opted to split from the Progressives, Wright opposed the decision. He eventually opted to leave the Democrats in order to remain with the Progressives, and was joined by Gillon. He remains a member of the Progressives.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
politician. He was an MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
from 1996 to 2002, representing the Alliance
Alliance (New Zealand political party)
The Alliance is a left-wing political party in New Zealand. It was formed in 1991, and was influential in the 1990s, but has since declined and has no representation in parliament. It suffered a major setback after Jim Anderton, the party's leader, left the party in 2002, taking several of the...
.Before entering Parliament he owned the Port-a-Loo company.
Wright joined the Social Credit Party
Social Credit Party (New Zealand)
The New Zealand Social Credit Party was a political party which served as the country's "third party" from the 1950s through into the 1980s. The party held a number of seats in the New Zealand Parliament, although never more than two at a time...
in 1977, and was part of the conference in 1985 that turned the group into the Democratic Party
New Zealand Democratic Party
The New Zealand Democratic Party for Social Credit is a small leftist political party in New Zealand. It is based around the ideas of Social Credit, an economic theory which also attracted some degree of support in Canada and Australia...
. He was the Democratic candidate for Rangiora in the 1990 elections
New Zealand general election, 1990
The 1990 New Zealand general election was held on 27 October to determine the composition of the 43rd New Zealand parliament. The governing Labour Party was defeated, ending its controversial two terms in office...
. In 1991, he became leader of the Democrats.
When the Democrats joined with three other parties to found the Alliance
Alliance (New Zealand political party)
The Alliance is a left-wing political party in New Zealand. It was formed in 1991, and was influential in the 1990s, but has since declined and has no representation in parliament. It suffered a major setback after Jim Anderton, the party's leader, left the party in 2002, taking several of the...
, Wright was active in building up the new organisation. He stood unsuccessfully for the Alliance in the Rangiora seat in the 1993 elections
New Zealand general election, 1993
The 1993 New Zealand general election was held on 6 November 1993 to determine the composition of the 44th New Zealand Parliament. It saw the governing National Party, led by Jim Bolger, win a second term in office, despite a major swing back towards the Labour Party. The new Alliance and New...
, and then in the 1994 Selwyn by-election
Selwyn by-election 1994
The Selwyn by-election was a by-election in the New Zealand electorate of Selwyn, a predominantly rural district in the middle of New Zealand's South Island. It took place on 13 August 1994, and was precipitated by the resignation from parliament of siting MP Ruth Richardson...
. In the 1996 elections
New Zealand general election, 1996
The 1996 New Zealand general election was held on 12 October 1996 to determine the composition of the 45th New Zealand Parliament. It was notable for being the first election to be held under the new Mixed Member Proportional electoral system, and produced a parliament considerably more diverse...
, the first conducted under the MMP system, Wright was elected to Parliament as a list MP, having been ranked in fourth place on the Alliance list. By this time, he was leader of the Democrats. He returned to Parliament in the 1999 elections
New Zealand general election, 1999
The 1999 New Zealand general election was held on 27 November 1999 to determine the composition of the 46th New Zealand Parliament. The governing National Party, led by Prime Minister Jenny Shipley, was defeated, being replaced by a coalition of Helen Clark's Labour Party and the smaller Alliance...
, and when the Alliance formed a coalition government with the larger Labour Party
New Zealand Labour Party
The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party. It describes itself as centre-left and socially progressive and has been one of the two primary parties of New Zealand politics since 1935....
, Wright was appointed to a Parliamentary Undersecretary's role.
In 2002, the Alliance began to collapse, with a rift opening between Parliamentary leader Jim Anderton
Jim Anderton
James Patrick Anderton, usually known as Jim Anderton , is the leader of the Progressive Party, a New Zealand political party. He has served in Parliament since 1984. He served as Deputy Prime Minister from 1999 to 2002 and is currently also the sitting Father of the House, the longest...
and the organizational wing, led by Matt McCarten
Matt McCarten
Matthew "Matt" McCarten is a New Zealand political organiser. He has been involved with several leftist or centre-left political parties, and is also active in the trade-union movement...
. When Anderton left the Alliance to establish a new party, the Progressive Coalition
New Zealand Progressive Party
Jim Anderton's Progressive Party , is a New Zealand political party generally somewhat to the left of its ally, the Labour Party....
, the Democrats (including Wright) followed him. In the 2002 elections
New Zealand general election, 2002
The 2002 New Zealand general election was held on 27 July 2002 to determine the composition of the 47th New Zealand Parliament. It saw the reelection of Helen Clark's Labour Party government, as well as the worst-ever performance by the opposition National Party.Arguably the most controversial...
, Wright was ranked in fourth place on the Progressive list, behind Anderton, Matt Robson
Matt Robson
Matthew Peter Robson is a New Zealand politician. He is deputy leader of the Progressive Party, and served in the Parliament from 1996 to 2005, first as a member of the Alliance, then as a Progressive.-Early years:...
, and new Democratic Party leader Grant Gillon
Grant Gillon
Grant Gillon is a New Zealand politician. He was a member of parliament between 1996 and 2002, representing the Alliance Party.-Career:Gillon's political career began when he joined the Democratic Party...
. but as the party only won enough votes for two seats, Wright did not remain in Parliament.
Later, when the Democrats opted to split from the Progressives, Wright opposed the decision. He eventually opted to leave the Democrats in order to remain with the Progressives, and was joined by Gillon. He remains a member of the Progressives.